Spaulding Roundup: Walker/SDSU Watch & Other Notes

The San Diego Union Tribune has the list of three finalists for the SDSU head coach job:

Here are your three finalists to become the new San Diego State football coach: Ball State coach Brady Hoke, former Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione and UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker.

All have interviewed, and each was in San Diego this week to see the lay of the land – Hoke on Thursday, Franchione on Wednesday and Walker earlier this week. Sources close to the situation say that one of the above is expected to emerge the 17th head coach in Aztecs history.

Which will it be?

The answer may not come until this weekend or next week, after consulting with select alumni and negotiations with the finalists.

Franchione, 57, returned to Texas on Thursday morning with his wife Kim after interviewing in San Diego the day before. Thursday at about 9:30 a.m., he was at the airport on his way back. He could return to San Diego if he's offered the job and accepts. Asked what he expected next, Franchione said, “I don't know anything.”

Hoke, 50, came in as Franchione left and was given a similar courtship with his wife Laura. He has reason to be interested in SDSU. The Aztecs could triple his current salary of $240,000. Hoke formerly recruited California as a defensive assistant coach at Michigan. His brother Jon coached defensive backs and special teams at SDSU from 1987-88 and is now defensive backs coach of the NFL's Houston Texans.

The Tribune report also provides an interesting angle on what SDSU might be looking for in their next head coach:

Another significant factor could be which kind of offense each will run. Franchione operates a spread-option system that helps equalize disadvantages in smaller programs. As defense-oriented coaches, Walker's and Hoke's offensive form wouldn't be clear here until they hired an offensive coordinator. Ball State runs a multiple offense.

Guess we will find out which way the Aztecs go very soon.

On the recruiting front, Jill Painter reports that the Bruins will host two - Two offensive linemen - Mike Philipp of Arroyo Valley (San Bernardino)- and Ryan Taylor of Tyler Junior College (Texas)- for an official visit this weekend. Enjoy Westwood Mike and Ryan.

Finally, some comedy from the Trojan Times. Diane Pucin (she is writing about football now?) reports that the CBS’s “60 Mins” will profile Pom Pom Pete in her article entitled, “'60 Minutes' will find out what makes Pete Carroll tick”:

USC football Coach Pete Carroll did not immediately accept the CBS invitation to be profiled on "60 Minutes" when it arrived last summer

"I was kind of doubting it at first," Carroll said Thursday. "I may not know everything about the show, but I do know they've been kind of tough on people in the past. I saw the piece they did on [Notre Dame Coach] Charlie Weis a couple years ago. I thought it was horrible.

"But I took a leap of faith and decided I needed to represent USC and the stuff we do for the inner city."

Aaha.  Sure Petey.

So who wants to email 60 mins today at 60m@cbsnews.com and ask them (very politely) if they intend to cover the unprecedented and disturbing pattern of scandals that have stained Petey’s time at ole ‘SC?

GO BRUINS.